Joined: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 4116 Location: San Diego, CA
Thanks: 11
Thanked:3
Financial Stability Posted: 03-10-08 17:00pm
How old are you, your current child status
(# of children, age you had them, age they
are)
What is the financial situation for your
life?
Do you work? Full time Part time? Make
decent money?
Did you go to school/Are you attending?
(not highschool--post HS education, trade
school, JC, university?)
If youre with your SO (significant other)
do they work? Full time/Part time? Make
decent money?
Did they go to school/Are they attending?
(not highschool--post HS education, trade
school, JC, university?)
What other means of finances do you
utilize?
Do you get government assistance? Do your
parents help? Do you solely live off your
parents financial means? Do you work under
the table (i.e. unlicensed babysitting?)
and if youre willing to answer... your
class... high upper, upper, low upper,
upper middle, middle, lower middle, lower,
poor...?
Just wondering, if the questions are too
personal dont answer... I am just curious
kind of behind everyones story... their
daily means and needs and struggles or
eases... etc...
|
wildwoodflower
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Feb 2008 Posts: 62 Location: PHX, AZ US
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Posted: 03-10-08 19:02pm
I guess this all doesn't really apply to
me yet but I guess I can still answer.
17, baby on the way.
I'm pretty financially comfortable, but
still am dependent on my mother for some
help with money. She helps pay for my car
& insurance.
I don't work stabley at the moment but do
odd jobs for friends and have been a temp
at my mom's work since I was 14. I worked
at Old Navy part-time not too long ago. I
have an interview this week for a Hair
Stylist's assistant part-time.
I'm still in High School but ALSO go to
trade school for cosmetology, I'm about
half way done.
My fiance works full-time at the bank
where I temp, and my mom's his boss's
boss.
He's not currently in school but by the
time I'm hoping to start college he wants
to try and attend as well for the same
degree- Pharmacy at Idaho State.
I for the most part live off of my mother,
and save all of my personally made money.
My fiance also helps with a lot of
expenses as well.
My family is upper middle class, and we
live in a low upper class part of Phoenix.
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Reptar
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 389
Thanks: 44
Thanked:13
Posted: 03-10-08 19:29pm
wildwoodflower
wrote:
I guess this all doesn't
really apply to me yet but I guess I can
still answer.
Same here, but it's still fun to answer.
I'm 19. I'm childless, and hope it stays
that way for about 10 years.
I'm pretty financially secure. I'm not
spending any money at the moment, so it's
not hard to be secure . I'm paying for my
university next fall so that's what I'm
saving up for, but thankfully I've gotten
scholarships so I don't need all that
much.
I do. Full time, just making over minimum
wage but working my ass off so I'll get a
nice raise. It's good money especially
when I'm not spending it on much else.
I'll be going back to university this
fall. Taking university 1 which is
essentially a mismatch of courses that's
supposed to help you decide your future. I
already know I want to be a surgeon.
My SO is 18, but he's currently at
university. He has no time for working,
but starting next week he'll be
alternating full time GOOD money jobs and
school every 4 months.
I live with my parents, and they feed me
and all that junk. I get to stay with them
until I stop going to school.
And last but not least, I WAS considered
upper/low upper class, not so much
anymore.
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sweet_mom
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 20 Oct 2007 Posts: 153 Location: , Canada
Thanks: 3
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Posted: 03-10-08 23:06pm
I am 19 I had my son when I was 17,he will
be 2 years old in May
My financial situation is good,we have
enough so that I can be a stay at home
mom.(besides daycare is WAY too expensive
where I live)
I babysit 4 kids in my home(I am a
government approved day home) which is
pretty good money,I make anywhere between
$500 and $1500 a month,depending on the
amount of time I have the kids for.
I am actually working on my diploma
still,I am doing correspondance.
My bf works full time but he's home quite
a bit more now that he's been promoted to
management,he has also just started his
own business as well so he is really
busy!
My bf never did post secondary education.
There are no other means of financial
help,we do not qualify for much because of
the amount of money my bf makes. My family
all live in a different province and they
have no financial stake in my life.
I'm not sure what class I would be
in,probably middle class.
|
Verizon-y
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 3291
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
Posted: 03-10-08 23:50pm
wildwoodflower, why wouldn't the question
of the thread apply to you?
|
benc152
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 225 Location: , Australia
Re: Financial Stability Posted: 03-11-08 01:07am
yeah doesn't apply to me but it is fun to
anwser , all my anwsers
will most likley back up why i had to let
my mum take over completely.
How old are you, your current child status
(# of children, age you had them, age they
are)I'm 18, one child that I do not
raise, I was 13 years old when he was
born, he'll be 5 in April
What is the financial situation for your
life?broke broke broke...(I have some
money saved for new car and house but i
don't spend it
Do you work? Full time Part time? Make
decent money? work as a "casual"
employee, fulltime student
Did you go to school/Are you attending?
(not highschool--post HS education, trade
school, JC, university?) high school
studying what would be equivelent to
GCSE
If youre with your SO (significant other)
do they work? Full time/Part time? Make
decent money? not with the babys real
mum, although i'm in a relationship, but
babys real mum currently doesn't work but
is a qualified hair dresser and looking
for a full time job in that field
Did they go to school/Are they attending?
(not highschool--post HS education, trade
school, JC, university?)nope
What other means of finances do you
utilize?i'm too dumb for big words like
this, but er i have stocks and i make
money on that if that's an appropriate
anwser? plus mummy gives me pocket money
each week XD
Do you get government assistance? Do your
parents help? Do you solely live off your
parents financial means? Do you work under
the table (i.e. unlicensed
babysitting?) well yeah parents took
over
and if youre willing to answer... your
class... high upper, upper, low upper,
upper middle, middle, lower middle, lower,
poor...? i myself am lower class, mum
and my step dad are probably upper
class
Just wondering, if the questions are too
personal dont answer... I am just curious
kind of behind everyones story... their
daily means and needs and struggles or
eases... etc day to day struggles?
dealing with my boy calling my step dad ,
dad and saying he loves him and stuff like
that, cause i hate my step dad enough to
begin with anyway
|
Altari
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 127 Location: Chicago, IL USA
Re: Financial Stability Posted: 03-11-08 09:34am
I'm 23. My oldest is 5 , then 3, then 2
(born when I was 17, 19 and 20,
respectively). All girls.
My financial situation is pretty good. I'm
technically a "stay at home" mom, but I do
a lot of freelancing (writing and
programming). I don't make much - anywhere
from $200-$1000 a month. At present, I'm
doing the online classes, but once dh is
finished with university, I'll be going
back to a brick and mortar campus.
My husband works full time as a web
developer and makes a good buck. He also
attends school part time while he finishes
up his Bachelors (3 more classes).
My parent's helped us until we were 21. We
lived with them (rent free), but did
contribute to a lot of the household
expenses. We definitely wouldn't have made
it as far as we have so far if they hadn't
been there to help. We moved into our own
home a year and a half ago, and we're
still there. We aren't on government
living assistance, and never have been.
The only program we've ever been on was
state KidCare after the girls were born.
I'm not exactly sure about the income
brackets and what's considered what
class...If you looked at our house, you'd
think we were poor. But, we're probably
middle middle class - if all goes well
with the business hubby is launching this
Spring, we'll be upper middle class.
|
tiamccoy819
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 585 Location: Elkton, Maryland,
Thanks: 5
Thanked:0
Posted: 03-11-08 11:43am
I am 18 years old (19 on April 14th), and
I am 5 weeks pregnant.
I am pretty financially stable, I work
part-time and make good money. I do live
at my parents house but I pay rent to stay
there about 700$ a month. I also pay all
of my bills including car payment,
insurance, and cell phone. My parents dont
buy me ANYTHING...not even food.
I am going to college for Registered Nurse
and will be graduating in the spring of
2011. Which is why I only work part-time
becuase I go to school full-time.
My SO is 20, and works full-time at Herr's
Potato Chip Factory making really good
money. We did live on our own but moved
into my parents to save money for a down
payment on a house.
I would say that we are middle class.
|
wildwoodflower
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Feb 2008 Posts: 62 Location: PHX, AZ US
Thanks: 2
Thanked:0
Posted: 03-11-08 12:06pm
futureshock
wrote:
wildwoodflower, why wouldn't
the question of the thread apply to
you?
I don't consider myself too much into
finances at the moment because my mother
takes care of pretty much everything,
though I'm going to start making sure I'm
more concerned with them and take over on
some of my financial responsibilities. And
I'm also still in High School and she
stated more of secondary education in the
education question which made it seem that
this was for people further down the road
than me.
|
Idony
Supporter
Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 1611 Location: virginia beach, va usa
Thanks: 11
Thanked:0
Posted: 03-11-08 19:12pm
How old are you, your current child status
(# of children, age you had them, age they
are)
im 19 (20 dec 22) and i have one baby girl
who is 9 months (a year may 28th)
What is the financial situation for your
life?
we have enough to get by, we get val
everything she needs (i mean EVERYTHING
you should see her room lol) and after
that we have just enough for food and
bills and maybe if were lucky a little
something for ourselves
Do you work? Full time Part time? Make
decent money?
i dont work, val has way to much going on
with her health, day care is super
expencive, and im afraid to leave her
Did you go to school/Are you attending?
(not highschool--post HS education, trade
school, JC, university?)
i graduated from high school right after
val was born but im not in college right
now, i wana go back when val gets a little
bigger (and hopfully grows out of some of
her health problems)
If youre with your SO (significant other)
do they work? Full time/Part time? Make
decent money?
hes in the navy, hes only e3 so he doesnt
make that much (about 600 every 1st and
15th)
Did they go to school/Are they attending?
(not highschool--post HS education, trade
school, JC, university?)
he graduated high school but he never went
to college, straight to the navy he never
liked school so he didnt want to do that
What other means of finances do you
utilize?
none
Do you get government assistance? Do your
parents help? Do you solely live off your
parents financial means? Do you work under
the table (i.e. unlicensed babysitting?)
val gets wic but if her formula wasnt so
expencive we wouldnt bother, other then
that the only things we get is stuff all
military gets (tricare, housing, bas, etc)
my mum has helped us with money maybe 3
times total, shes helped with val (since
she moved out) maybe 10 times total, so
not much help there
and if youre willing to answer... your
class... high upper, upper, low upper,
upper middle, middle, lower middle, lower,
poor...?
i think we would be classified as very low
class, but if you think about it we dont
pay rent or utilities and we dont pay
health insurance (well we do pay all that
technically but its taken directly out of
his pay check so it doesnt really seem
like it) so we have plenty
|
Lilly Ivy
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 1697 Location: Newell, WV
Thanks: 66
Thanked:111
Posted: 03-12-08 01:02am
these are always fun!
I'm 18, number one for me on the way
(34wks along). Husband has a 9yr old boy,
he was 22 when he had him.
Financial situation is pretty good. We are
living with our friend currently and it
helps A LOT.
I don't work. I just keep the house clean
and cook, and that's our 'rent' for our
friend.
I graduated a year early from HS, and have
no interest in furthering my education.
Hubby works as a truck driver, basically
full time (depends on the season) and
makes pretty decent money.
He has a GED and training school he hasn't
paid off, so IRS took his taxes this
year.
I am on WIC and I have a medical card.
Eh, I consider us middle class I guess.
Not really POOR, but not living the high
life. We do live in a trailer if that adds
to the 'white trash' scene, lol. Not to
mention in the hills of West Virginia
|
softerxsin
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 133 Location: ,
Posted: 03-12-08 19:49pm
im 18 (19 july 16) im almost 3 months.
my financial situation is really good
yes i work, whenever my employee is not
able to make it in or has to go to class
other than that i make surprise visits.
yeah we make decent money.
i attend a community college (nova) im
lucky enough to go to college for free
because when my grandmother passed me put
it in her will that she will pay for my
college
my fiance helps me run the store and on
top of that he owns his own flooring
company. but sadly its been slow because
retail went down so much. so he has been
home playing with the animals.
he dropped out of high school and didnt
get his ged and he is an ex drug dealer
and he used to steal peoples steros out of
their cars and sell them. haha but he is
done with that.obviously.
i geuss im in the low upper class?
we were struggling a little in jan. &
feb because the store was so slow but his
flooring buisness was shooting in jan. but
once feb hit it stopped. so feb was very
hard for us.
|
rosejackson
Supporter
Joined: 23 Dec 2005 Posts: 4385 Location: hertfordshire, england
Thanks: 7
Thanked:14
Posted: 03-14-08 05:51am
How old are you, your current child status
(# of children, age you had them, age they
are) I am 18, 19 in May. I have an 18
month old son and i'm pregnant with my
second, due july 4th this year
What is the financial situation for your
life?
We're coping
Do you work? Full time Part time? Make
decent money?
I recently left my job. Bobby works full
time.
Did you go to school/Are you attending?
(not highschool--post HS education, trade
school, JC, university?)
I finished school and received my grades
If youre with your SO (significant other)
do they work? Full time/Part time? Make
decent money?
Bobby works full time
Did they go to school/Are they attending?
(not highschool--post HS education, trade
school, JC, university?)
He finished school and got the grades he
could get at the time. He started college,
but dropped out
What other means of finances do you
utilize?
we receive child tax credit and child
benefit
Do you get government assistance? Do your
parents help? Do you solely live off your
parents financial means? Do you work under
the table (i.e. unlicensed babysitting?)
My mum lends me money if we're stuck,
which is very rarely. They look after
william if im ill, etc. The goverment
housed and help with financial issues
(child tax credit, etc) which isn't much,
but helps
and if youre willing to answer... your
class... high upper, upper, low upper,
upper middle, middle, lower middle, lower,
poor...?
I wouldn't say we were poor as we are
coping. I'd say lower middle
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rainstorm
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 68
Posted: 03-15-08 00:14am
This is an interesting topic, but maybe it
would be helpful to define terms.
Working class generally means having an
hourly wage (as opposed to salary), doing
work that is physical (i.e. blue collar
vs. white collar), and having a high
school diploma or GED (s opposed to a
college degree).
Middle class (lower, middle and upper)
generally refers to college educated,
white collar, having a salary, and an
income between approximately $20,000 and
$98,000 (dual income).
|
benc152
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 13 Aug 2007 Posts: 225 Location: , Australia
Posted: 03-15-08 02:11am
rainstorm
wrote:
This is an interesting
topic, but maybe it would be helpful to
define terms.
Working class generally means having an
hourly wage (as opposed to salary), doing
work that is physical (i.e. blue collar
vs. white collar), and having a high
school diploma or GED (s opposed to a
college degree).
Middle class (lower, middle and upper)
generally refers to college educated,
white collar, having a salary, and an
income between approximately $20,000 and
$98,000 (dual
income).
All well and good to say however a lot of
people here are from different places, uk,
us, aus, europe, canada etc ..sure there's
more
point of that is money has differnt
values, school system is different and the
comparison of classes is different
|
kerryn
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 139 Location: wellington, New zealand
Posted: 03-15-08 04:21am
How old are you, your current child status
(# of children, age you had them, age they
are) I just turned 18 last month and am 26
wks pregnant with my first
What is the financial situation for your
life?
We're coping
Do you work? Full time Part time? Make
decent money?
I recently left my job to study
Did you go to school/Are you attending?
(not highschool--post HS education, trade
school, JC, university?)
I start studying to be a youth worker on
monday
If youre with your SO (significant other)
do they work? Full time/Part time? Make
decent money?
He starts a new job on monday working full
time making 1060 a fortnight
Did they go to school/Are they attending?
(not highschool--post HS education, trade
school, JC, university?)
he did a coupla courses- hes a fully
qualified dairy farmer and cable logger
What other means of finances do you
utilize?
none
Do you get government assistance? Do your
parents help? Do you solely live off your
parents financial means? Do you work under
the table (i.e. unlicensed babysitting?)
we get housing assistance and income
support until my SO gets his first
paycheck
and if youre willing to answer... your
class... high upper, upper, low upper,
upper middle, middle, lower middle, lower,
poor...?
im not really sure lol
|
zoey_chick
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 7 Location: surrey, uk
Posted: 03-15-08 16:48pm
im 18 childless
ummm ok would like to improve
im a full time nursery nurse and earn
1570.69 a month
was an apprentice
works part time in a factory engineer 3
nights a week n earn a hell of alot more
than i do
nope just working
no help we got a house we got on our own
so far not had 2 ask for help but my
parents did buy my car for me
umm upper
|
rainstorm
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 68
Posted: 03-15-08 21:19pm
benc152
wrote:
rainstorm
wrote:
This is an interesting
topic, but maybe it would be helpful to
define terms.
Working class generally means having an
hourly wage (as opposed to salary), doing
work that is physical (i.e. blue collar
vs. white collar), and having a high
school diploma or GED (s opposed to a
college degree).
Middle class (lower, middle and upper)
generally refers to college educated,
white collar, having a salary, and an
income between approximately $20,000 and
$98,000 (dual
income).
All well and good to say however a lot of
people here are from different places, uk,
us, aus, europe, canada etc ..sure there's
more
point of that is money has differnt
values, school system is different and the
comparison of classes is
different
Hence the term "generally". Why not post
definitions for your country?
|
Altari
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 127 Location: Chicago, IL USA
Posted: 03-16-08 18:50pm
I think those "general" guide lines are a
bit too precise (for the US). Someone with
a Master's in Psychology (as my MIL) can
have an hourly wage, but still be middle
class.
Someone with a CCNA can be salaried with
no degree and "blue collar" (working with
their hands) but still be upper class.
Your class definition is mostly defined by
where you fall in relation to the
"poverty" level. If your family is under
that line, you are lower class. At the
line to up to $150,000 (dual income), is
considered middle class. $150,000 is
considered the "upper limit" on government
assistance this year. Anyone above that
limit is usually considered "upper class".
|
rainstorm
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 68
Posted: 03-16-08 23:43pm
Altari
wrote:
I think those "general"
guide lines are a bit too precise (for the
US). Someone with a Master's in Psychology
(as my MIL) can have an hourly wage, but
still be middle class.
Someone with a CCNA can be salaried with
no degree and "blue collar" (working with
their hands) but still be upper class.
Your class
definition is mostly defined by
where you fall in relation to the
"poverty" level.
By whom? There are various definitions of
thse terms, so I am interested in the
origin of this particular definition.
Academic Class Models
Dennis Gilbert, 2002 William Thompson
& Joseph Hickey, 2005 Leonard
Beeghley, 2004
Class Typical
characteristics Class Typical
characteristics Class Typical
characteristics
Capitalist class (1%) Top-level
executives, high-rung politicians, heirs.
Ivy League education common. Upper class
1% Top-level executives, celebrities,
heirs; income of $500,000+ common. Ivy
league education common. The super-rich
(0.9%) Multi-millionaires whose incomes
commonly exceed $350,000; includes
celebrities and powerful
executives/politicians. Ivy League
education common.
The Rich (5%) Households with net worth of
$1 million or more; largely in the form of
home equity. Generally have college
degrees.
Upper middle class1 (15%) Highly educated
(often with graduate degrees), most
commonly salaried, professionals and
middle management with large work
autonomy Upper middle class1 (15%) Highly
educated (often with graduate degrees)
professionals & managers with
household incomes varying from the high
5-figure range to commonly above
$100,000 Middle class (plurality/
majority?; ca. 46%) College educated
workers with incomes considerably
above-average incomes and compensation; a
man making $57,000 and a woman making
$40,000 may be typical.
Lower middle class
(30%) Semi-professionals and craftsmen
with a roughly average standard of living.
Most have some college education and are
white collar. Lower middle class
(32%) Semi-professionals and craftsman
with some work autonomy; household incomes
commonly range from $35,000 to $75,000.
Typically, some college education.
Working class (30%) Clerical and most blue
collar workers whose work is highly
routinized. Standard of living varies
depending on number of income earners, but
is commonly just adequate. High school
education. Working class (32%) Clerical,
pink and blue collar workers with often
low job security; common household incomes
range from $16,000 to $30,000. High school
education. Working class
(ca. 40% - 45%) Blue collar workers and
those whose jobs are highly routinized
with low economic security; a man making
$40,000 and a woman making $26,000 may be
typical. High school education.
Working poor (13%) Service, low-rung
clerical and some blue collar workers.
High economic insecurity and risk of
poverty. Some high school education.
Lower class (ca. 14% - 20%) Those who
occupy poorly-paid positions or rely on
government transfers. Some high school
education.
Underclass (12%) Those with limited or no
participation in the labor force. Reliant
on government transfers. Some high school
education. The poor (ca. 12%) Those living
below the poverty line with limited to no
participation in the labor force; a
household income of $18,000 may be
typical. Some high school education.
References: Gilbert, D. (2002) The
American Class Structure: In An Age of
Growing Inequality. Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth; Thompson, W. & Hickey, J.
(2005). Society in Focus. Boston, MA:
Pearson, Allyn & Bacon; Beeghley, L.
(2004). The Structure of Social
Stratification in the United States.
Boston, MA: Pearson, Allyn & Bacon.
1The upper middle class may also be
referred to as "Professional class"
Ehrenreich, B. (1989). The Inner Life of
the Middle Class. NY, NY: Harper-Colins.
Last edited by rainstorm on 03-17-08 00:56am; edited 1 time in total